Moving from Denver to Austin?
Denver to Austin — CO's 4.4% flat tax versus TX's zero, plus Austin's deeper tech ecosystem and warmer winters.
- 925 mi Distance
- 14 hr Drive time
- 9% lower Home prices
- $4,400/yr Tax savings on $100K
Denver-Austin tech career moves accelerated when Apple opened its Austin campus and Tesla relocated HQ to Austin in 2021. Many Bay Area tech expats who initially landed in Denver pre-2020 then moved to Austin for deeper tech ecosystem. The two cities both attract outdoor-active tech workers but offer different climates and tax structures.
Why people move from Denver to Austin.
- TX no state income tax (CO 4.4% eliminated)
- TX no capital gains tax
- Austin tech ecosystem deeper than Denver
- Warmer winters (no snow seasons)
- Sea-level — easier than Denver's 5,280 ft altitude
- Cost of living 7% lower
The money side of CO → TX.
Denver
- Median home$605,000
- Income tax4.4% flat (CO)
- Cost index128
Austin
- Median home$550,000
- Income taxNone (TX)
- Cost index119
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Austin, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Zilker Park & Barton Springs — 350-acre urban park, 68°F natural spring pool year-round
- Lady Bird Lake — Hike-and-bike trail, kayaking, paddleboarding
- Mount Bonnell — 775-ft hill with city and Lake Austin views
- McKinney Falls State Park — Waterfalls and limestone bluffs in the city
Culture & Arts
- Texas State Capitol — Tallest state capitol building, free tours
- South by Southwest (SXSW) — Annual music/film/tech festival in March
- Austin City Limits Festival — October two-weekend music festival in Zilker Park
Family-Friendly
- Congress Avenue Bridge Bats — 1.5M Mexican free-tailed bats emerge nightly Mar-Nov
- Texas Memorial Museum — UT campus natural history museum
Nightlife & Entertainment
- 6th Street — Historic entertainment district
Austin's essential restaurants.
The dining list every Austin resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Franklin Barbecue BBQ East Austin
Brisket worth the 2-hour line
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Uchi Japanese South Lamar
Tyson Cole's flagship sushi
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Suerte Mexican East Austin
Heirloom corn masa, James Beard nominee
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Odd Duck New American South Lamar
Farm-to-table sharing plates
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Veracruz All Natural Tacos Multiple
Best migas tacos in town
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Uchiko Japanese Rosedale
Uchi's farmhouse sister restaurant
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Olamaie Southern Downtown
Modern interpretation of Southern classics
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Loro Asian smokehouse South Lamar
Aaron Franklin's Asian-BBQ collab
Best Austin neighborhoods for Denver transplants.
Mapped to the Denver neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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South Congress / Bouldin
Walkable, food/music — closest to LoHi vibe
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East Austin
Hip walkable — RiNo/LoDo energy
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Westlake Hills
Top schools, hilly — Cherry Creek equivalent — $1.5M+
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Mueller
Planned mixed-use urban village
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Cedar Park
Suburban, family-oriented, near Apple — $450-700K
What daily life feels like in Austin.
Climate
Humid subtropical. Hot summers (95-105°F, peaks over 110°F). Mild winters (40-65°F, occasional freezes). Spring is glorious; fall arrives late. Sun 230+ days/year. Annual rainfall 35 inches with occasional flash floods.
- Summer90-105°F
- Winter45-65°F
- Sun days/yr228
- Rainfall34 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score42/100
- Transit Score33/100
- Bike Score56/100
Austin is car-dependent — most errands require driving.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Lady Bird Lake — kayak, paddleboard, hike-and-bike trail
- Greenbelt (Barton Creek) — 7-mile urban hiking corridor
- Hill Country day trips — wine country, Hamilton Pool, Krause Springs
- Lake Travis — boating and lakeside dining
- Austin's 250+ parks system; Zilker is the crown jewel
- Cycling — over 100 miles of urban bike lanes
What changes about your daily life.
- Summer heat 100°F+ replaces Denver's mild summers
- Skiing access disappears (closest TX skiing 12+ hrs away)
- Home prices similar but property tax higher (TX 1.6% vs CO 0.52%)
- Live music capital replaces Denver's eclectic scene
- Mountain access disappears
- Sea-level breathing easier
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 925 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$6,000-$12,500
- Container/PODS$3,200-$7,000
- DIY (26-ft truck)$2,000-$3,800
- Best monthsOctober-April
- Lead time5-7 weeks; 3-5 day delivery
USDOT-registered.
Moving from Denver to Austin: FAQ.
Austin tech really deeper than Denver?
Yes. Austin has Apple, Tesla, Oracle, Google, Meta, Indeed, Dell — among biggest US tech hubs after Bay Area, NYC, Seattle. Denver has Palantir, Lockheed, Google smaller — solid but smaller ecosystem. Senior tech roles deeper in Austin.
Will I miss Colorado mountains?
Common Denver-to-Austin regret. CO skiing 90 min; Austin's nearest skiing 12+ hrs (NM mountains). Austin offers Hill Country instead — wineries, hiking, lakes, but no peaks. Most CO transplants describe missing mountain access.
Let's find the right interstate mover for your Denver-to-Austin move.
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